| Pitcairn PCA2 Autogiro | ||
|---|---|---|
After many years of caring for Steve Pitcairn's PCA-2, it is now permanently at the EAA Museum. The following chronicles the assembly and lights at Oshkosh. The PCA2 Autogiro was scheduled to go to Oshkosh for the convention during the summer of 2005. Unfortunately last minute situations precluded this. In September of 2005, Stephen Pitcairn elected to have the Autogiro disassembled and trucked to the Kermit Weeks hangar at Oshkosh. He then flew out with a group to reassemble and fly the Autogiro. After a successful session of flying, the only airworthy PCA2 Autogiro, painted in the "Miss Champion" livery, was permanently enshrined in the EAA museum. The Autogiro can be seen at EAA's "Pioneer Field" in the "Pitcairn Aviation" hangar. This page shows some of the reassembly process. |
||
(Click on any image for a larger photo.) |
||
OCTOBER 2005
|
||
The video below shows the Pitcairn PCA2 Autogiro flying. |
||
 |
 |
 |
Mike & Larry prepare for the flight to Oshkosh |
Larry meditates on the seriousness of the job at hand while winging toward Oshkosh |
Mike & "The Boss" at 28,000 feet |
 |
 |
 |
Mike tells Larry to grab that thing before it gets away! |
Mike installs the propeller on Miss Champion. |
Tip of the main rotor blade |
 |
 |
 |
Larry & Dan prepare the main rotor for installation |
"Miss Champion" being prepared for main rotor installation |
Another shot of "Miss Champion", EAA's B-17 is undergoing restoration behind the Autogiro |
 |
 |
 |
Larry replaces an abrasion strip on top of rotor blade |
Mike installs aileron bellcrank cover |
"The Boss" cleans up the windshield |
 |
 |
 |
Mike guides the Main rotor home |
Larry stabilizes the main rotor as it is lowered onto the mast pylon |
Mike aligns the lock tab slots on the main rotor |
 |
 |
 |
Wheeled out for testing |
Looking from the tip of the "Black" blade |
"The Boss" fuels "Miss Champion" |
 |
 |
 |
Runs great |
At home in front of the EAA's Pitcairn Aviation hangar with Stephen, Mike & Larry |
Mike gives the Autogiro one last look over |
 |
 |
|
In the hangar amongst its contemporaries |
The crew: Dan, Paul, Larry, Stephen, Ric, & Mike |
|